Régis Le Bris to Hold Talks with Sunderland Striker Aaron Connolly Amid Game-Time Concerns

Régis Le Bris to Hold Talks with Sunderland Striker Aaron Connolly Amid Game-Time Concerns

Régis Le Bris has confirmed he will hold discussions with Aaron Connolly this month as the striker’s prospects of regular game time at Sunderland appear to be fading.

Connolly was once again an unused substitute on Sunday as Sunderland secured a 1-0 win over Portsmouth, with Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda leading the attack. For the second consecutive match, Nazariy Rusyn came off the bench, while Connolly has not started a game since scoring against Millwall in November. The Irishman has made just two appearances since December.

Sunderland are reportedly in the market for another striker during the January transfer window and may also consider signing a versatile forward if an ideal option emerges. Speaking on Connolly’s situation, Le Bris suggested the striker would need to be patient as competition in the squad remains fierce.

“I think it’s more a question of momentum,” Le Bris explained. “We spoke a lot with Aaron. Eli started well and then was injured. After, Wilson was very good and they built momentum. When you have this momentum, you have to trust the players. If I change every time, it doesn’t make sense. For Aaron, he’s still a good player and teammate, but he has to wait.”

Le Bris added: “We’ll see [what the future holds]. It’s still important we have this discussion and conversation with him this month and we’ll look to build the best pathway for our players. Sometimes it’s not your story. We don’t know at the moment what will be the outcome.”

Connolly could get a chance to make his case when Sunderland face Stoke City in the FA Cup next weekend, with Le Bris expected to rotate his side. The 23-year-old’s short-term contract, signed in September, expires at the end of the season.